Methods of operating dishwasher with illuminable user interface

Abstract

A method of operating a dish treating appliance includes a user interface disposed along the top edge of a door for selectively opening and closing access to a treating chamber. The user interface can be illuminated and operating the user interface can include operating a user input mode when the door is open and a status mode when the door is closed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a dish treating appliance, the method comprising:
 operating an illuminable user interface having an array of inputs for cycles and cycle options, with a corresponding light array for at least some of the inputs in a status mode including selectively illuminating the light array to generate an animation indicative of a status of the dish treating appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the animation comprises at least one of: a sweeping of at least some of the lights in the light array, a random illumination of at least some of the lights in the light array, or a pulsing of at least some of the lights in the light array. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the sweeping comprises sequentially illuminating the at least some of the lights in a predetermined direction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the sweeping further comprises changing the predetermined direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the changing the predetermined direction comprises alternating the predetermined direction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising changing at least one of a color emitted by the lights, a speed of the animation, or an intensity of the lights during the animation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the color is changed to indicate a change in temperature within the dish treating appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the change in the speed or the intensity indicates completing of a cycle or a phase of the cycle. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a dish treating appliance having a user interface with an array of inputs for cycles and cycle options, with a corresponding light array for at least some of the inputs, the method comprising: selectively illuminating portions of the light array to generate an animation indicative of a status of the dish treating appliance wherein the animation comprises at least one of: sweeping to indicate progress, random to indicate a rinse phase, or pulsing to indicate completion. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the sweeping further comprises changing a predetermined direction of the animation. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising changing at least one of a color emitted by the lights, a speed of the animation, or an intensity of the lights during the animation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the color is changed to indicate a change in temperature within the dish treating appliance. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a dish treating appliance, the method comprising:
 operating an illuminable user interface, which is located along a top edge of a closure moveable between an opened and closed condition and the illuminable user interface having an array of inputs for cycles and cycle options, with a corresponding light array for at least some of the inputs in a status mode including selectively illuminating the light array to generate an animation indicative of a status of the dish treating appliance when the closure is closed.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the animation comprises at least one of: a sweeping of at least some of the lights in the light array, a random illumination of at least some of the lights in the light array, or a pulsing of at least some of the lights in the light array. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the sweeping comprises sequentially illuminating the at least some of the lights in a predetermined direction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the sweeping further comprises changing the predetermined direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the changing the predetermined direction comprises alternating the predetermined direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising changing at least one of a color emitted by the lights, a speed of the animation, or an intensity of the lights during the animation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the color is changed to indicate a change in temperature within the dish treating appliance. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the change in the speed or the intensity indicates completing of a cycle or a phase of the cycle.